Woods, Left Field, Philadelphia, from the series Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This is "Woods, Left Field, Philadelphia," a photograph from the "Old Judge Cigarettes" series, created around 1887 by Goodwin & Company. It's a commercial image, one of many trading cards included in cigarette packs at the time. These cards offer a fascinating glimpse into the construction of celebrity and masculinity in late 19th-century America. The pose is staged, a carefully constructed image meant to convey athleticism and respectability. The very act of mass producing and distributing these images via tobacco products speaks volumes about the intertwining of commerce, leisure, and identity in this period. Consider how the image participates in a visual culture that largely excludes people of color. The whiteness of the player is not incidental but central to the image's appeal. The visual language reinforces a hierarchy, a subtle yet powerful statement about who belongs and who is celebrated in the realm of professional sports.